Process for producing bicyclo[3.3.0]octanes

ABSTRACT

This invention provides a process for producing bicyclo[3.3.0]octanes expressed by the following formula [II] ##STR1## wherein R 11  represents H, a one-equivalent cation or R 1 , R.sub.ω&#39; , represents R.sub.ω&#39; , and R 21  represents H or R 2 , 
     from a thiol compound expressed by the following formula [I], ##STR2## wherein R 1  represents a C 1-10  alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alicyclic group, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl (C 1-2 )alkyl group or a tri(C 1-7  hydrocarbyl)silyl group, Ar represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, R.sub.ω  represents a substituted or unsubstituted C 1-13  alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted C 2-13  alkenyl group, and R 2  represents a hydroxyl-protecting group. 
     This process enables to obtain isocarbacyclines or synthetic intermediates therefor with industrial advantages.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a process for producing bicyclo[3.3.0] octanes. More particularly, this invention relates to an industrially advantageous process for producing isocarbacyclins or their synthetical intermediates, bicyclo[3.3.0] octanes.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

Carbocyclines are stable compounds of prostaglandin I₂ and are very useful compounds as an antithrombotic agent. It has recently been found that 9(0)-methano-Δ⁶ -(9α)-prostaglandin I₁ (isocarbacyclin) is a compound which displays the strongest anticoagulant action against thrombocyte coagulation among the analogues of carbocycline and is expected to be used as medicine (Ikegami et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 33, 3493 (1983); ibid., 33, 3497, (1983); European Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 0134246).

With regard to the process for producing isocarbocycline, a method in which an epoxide compound expressed by a formula ##STR3## is used as an intermediate (Ikegami et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 33, 3493 (1983)) or a method in which an enolic compound expressed by a formula ##STR4## is used (Ikegami et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 33, 3497 (1983)) has hitherto been known. In these methods, however, the synthetic preparation of the intermediate epoxide compound or enolic compound from the starting material inevitably requires many processes and accordingly these methods of synthesizing isocarbacyclin can hardly be regarded as advantageous ones from the industrial viewpoint.

Apart from these methods, methods have recently been proposed to synthesize isocarbacyclin by use of a bicyclo[3.3.0] octane compound which is expressed by a formula shown below. ##STR5## There are, for instance, such methods as (i) A method comprising introducing an α-chain to Corey lactone, a starting material, in the Wittig's reaction, establishing the aforementioned bicyclo[3.3.0] octane through an epoxide compound, and further subjecting to the oxidation reaction, Horner-Emmons reaction, and reduction reaction to give isocarbacyclin (Chemistry Letters, 1069 (1984));

(ii) A method comprising introducing two methylene groups to Corey lactone, a starting material, in the Wittig's reaction, establishing a diene compound via diol compound and aldehyde compound, which is then selectively reduced to give the aforementioned bicyclo[3.3.0] octane compound, and following the same procedures as taken in the preceding (i) to obtain isocarbacyclin (Chemistry Letters, 579 (1984)); and

(iii) A method comprising introducing an α-chain to Corey lactone, a starting material, in the Wittig's reaction, establishing an aldehyde compound, which is then subjected to the intramolecular thermal reaction to establish the aforementioned bicyclo[3.3.0] octane compound, and subjecting this compound to the same procedure as taken in the abovementioned (i) to obtain isocarbacyclin (Tetrahedron Lett., 25, 1067 (1984)).

However, all of these methods have a demerit of being not industrially advantageous since they require multistage processes in obtaining the intermediate bicyclo[3.3.0] octane compound and the overall yield is not so large.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of this invention is to provide an industrially advantageous process for producing isocarbacyclins.

Another object of this invention is to provide an industrially excellent process for producing synthetic intermediates of isocarbacyclins.

A further object of this invention is to provide novel synthetic intermediates of isocarbacyclins.

Other objects of this invention will be clearly understood by referring to the following detailed description.

The objects and advantages of this invention will be achieved by the preparing process described below.

This is a process for preparing bicyclo[3.3.0] octanes expressed by the following formula (II) ##STR6## wherein R₁₁ indicates a hydrogen atom, C₁ ˜C₁₀ alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, substituted or unsubstituted alicyclic group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl (C₁ ˜C₂) alkyl group, tri (C₁ ˜C₇) hydrocarbon silyl group or one equivalent of cation; Rω' indicates a substituted or unsubstituted C₁ ˜C₁₃ alkyl group or substituted or unsubstituted C₂ ˜C₁₃ alkenyl group; and R₂₁ indicates a hydrogen atom or hydroxyl-protecting group;

which process comprises subjecting a thiol ester compound expressed by the following formula (I) ##STR7## wherein R₁ indicates a C₁ ˜C₁₀ alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, substituted or unsubstituted alicyclic group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl (C₁ ˜C₂) alkyl group or tri (C₁ ˜C₇) hydrocarbon silyl group; Ar indicates a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group; Rω indicates a substituted or unsubstituted C₁ ˜C₁₃ C alkyl groups or a substituted or unsubstituted C₂ ˜C₁₃ alkenyl group; and R₂ indicates a hydroxyl-protecting group;

to the reduction reaction, followed by, if necessary, the deprotecting reaction, hydrolysis and/or salt-forming reaction.

R₁ in the aforementioned formula (I) indicates a C₁ ˜C₁₀ alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, substituted or unsubstituted alicyclic group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl (C₁ ˜C₂) alkyl group, or tri (C₁ ˜C₇) hydrocarbon silyl group.

As the C₁ ˜C₁₀ alkyl group, such linear or branched groups as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, and n-decyl, for instance, may be mentioned.

As the unsubstituted phenyl substituent group, a halogen atom, hydroxyl group, C₂ ˜C₇ acyloxy group, C₁ ˜C₄ alkyl group which may be substituted by a halogen atom, C₁ ˜C₄ alkoxy group which may be substituted by a halogen atom, nitryl group, carboxyl group, and (C₁ ˜C₆) alkoxycarbonyl group are desirable ones.

As the halogen atom, fluorine, chlorine, and bromine are preferable, and fluorine and chlorine are especially preferable. As the C₂ ˜C₇ acyloxy group, acetoxy, propionyloxy, n-butyryloxy, iso-butyryloxy, n-valeryloxy, iso-valeryloxy, caproyloxy, enanthyloxy, and benzoyloxy may be mentioned. As the C₁ ˜C₄ alkyl group which may be substituted by a halogen atom, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, chloromethyl, dichloromethyl, and trifluoromethyl may be preferable. As the C₁ ˜C₄ alkoxy groups which may be substituted by a halogen atom, methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, iso-propoxy, n-butoxy, chloromethoxy, dichloromethoxy, and trifluoromethoxy may be mentioned as preferable ones.

As the (C₁ ˜C₆) alkoxycarboxyl group, methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, butoxycarbonyl, and hexyloxycarbonyl may be mentioned.

The substituted phenyl group may have 1 to 3 substituents as mentioned above, preferably one substituent.

As the substituted or unsubstituted alicyclic group, a C₃ ˜C₁₀ cycloalkyl group, which is substituted by such substituents as mentioned above or unsubstituted, and cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and cycloheptyl, for instance may be mentioned, and cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl are preferable.

As the substituted or unsubstituted phenyl (C₁ ˜C₂) alkyl group, benzyl, α-phenetyl, and β-phenetyl whose phenyl group is substituted by the same substituent as mentioned above or not substituted, may be mentioned.

As the tri (C₁ ˜C₇) hydrocarbon silyl group, such tri (C₁ ˜C₄) alkylsilyl as trimethylsilyl, triethylsilyl, and t-butyldimethylsilyl groups; such diphenyl (C₁ ˜C₄) alkylsilyl as a t-butyldiphenylsilyl group; and tribenzylsilyl group may be mentioned as preferable ones.

Ar in the aforementioned formula (I) indicates a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group. As the substituted or unsubstituted aryl group like this, phenyl and naphthyl, which may be substituted by the same substituent as mentioned above or unsubstituted, may be mentioned.

Rω in the aforementioned formula (I) indicates a substituted or unsubstituted C₁ ˜C₁₃ alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted C₁ ˜C₁₃ alkenyl group.

As the unsubstituted C₁ ˜C₁₃ alkyl group, such linear or branched alkyl groups as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, and n-decyl may be mentioned.

As the C₂ ˜C₁₃ alkenyl group, such linear or branched alkenyl groups as vinyl, 1-propenyl, 1-butenyl, 1-pentenyl, 1-hexenyl, 1-heptenyl, 1-octenyl, 1-nonenyl and 1-decenyl may be mentioned.

As the C₁ ˜C₁₃ alkyl group which has a substituent or the C₂ ˜C₁₃ alkenyl group which has a substituent, a hydroxyl group, protected hydroxyl group, vinyl group, C₃ ˜C₇ cycloalkyl group which may be substituted, C₂ ˜C₄ alkynyl group, C₁ ˜C₄ alkoxy group, phenyl group which may be substituted, and phenoxy group which may be substituted may be mentioned.

As the protected hydroxyl-protecting group, such tri (C₁ ˜C₇) hydrocarbon silyl groups as exemplified in defining R₁ ; groups which form an acetal bond with a hydrogen atom of such hydroxyl groups as methoxymethyl, 1-ethoxyethyl, 2-methoxy-2-propyl, 2-ethoxy-2-propyl, (2-methoxyethoxy) methyl, benzyloxymethyl, 2-tetrahydropyranyl, 2-tetrahydrofuranyl, and 6,6-dimethyl-3-oxa-2-oxobicyclo[3.3.0]hex-4-yl groups; and such C₂ ˜C₇ acyl groups as acetyl, propionyl n-butyryl, iso-butyryl, n-valeryl, iso-valeryl, caproyl, enanthyl, and benzoyl may be mentioned.

As the C₃ ˜C₇ cycloalkyl group, cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl, for instance, may be mentioned. These cycloalkyl groups may be substituted by the same substituent as the substituent of substituted phenyl group of R₁.

As the C₂ ˜C₄ alkoxy group, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, and butoxy, for instance, may be mentioned. As the substituent group of the phenyl group which may be substituted or the phenoxy group which may be substituted, a fluorine atom, methyl, trifluoromethyl, methoxy, and trifluoromethoxy, for instance, may be mentioned.

As Rω in the aforementioned formula (I), a substituted methyl group expressed by the following formula (IV) ##STR8## wherein R₄ indicates a hydroxyl-protecting group; or a substituted vinyl group expressed by the following formula (V) ##STR9## wherein R₁ indicates a hydroxyl-protecting group; R₆ indicates a hydrogen atom, methyl group or vinyl group; R₇ indicates a substituted or unsubstituted C₁ ˜C₉ alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted C₂ ˜C₉ alkenyl group, substituted or unsubstituted C₂ ˜C₉ alkynyl group, or substituted or unsubstituted C₅ ˜C₆ cycloalkyl group; and n indicates an integer 0 or 1, is preferable.

As the hydroxyl-protecting group indicated by R₄ in the aforementioned formula (IV) and by R₅ in the aforementioned formula (V), the same ones as those referred to in the above may again be mentioned. As the C₁ ˜C₉ alkyl group indicated by R₇ in the aforementioned formula (V), methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, n-pentyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylpentyl, 1-methylhexyl, and 2-methylhexyl, for instance, may be mentioned. As the C₂ ˜C₉ alkenyl group, 2-pentenyl, 4-pentenyl, 2-methyl-3-pentenyl, hexenyl, 1,4-dimethyl-3-pentenyl, and 2,6-dimethyl-5-heptenyl may be mentioned. As the C₂ ˜C₉ alkynyl group, 2-butynyl, 2-pentynyl, 3-pentynyl, and 1-methyl-2-pentynyl may be mentioned. As the C₅ ˜C₆ cycloalkyl group, cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl, for instance, may be mentioned.

As the substituent groups of these C₁ ˜C₉ alkyl groups, C₂ ˜C₉ alkenyl groups, C₂ ˜C₉ alkynyl groups, and C₅ ˜C₆ cycloalkyl groups, the same substituent groups as the substituents of the C₁ ˜C₁₃ alkyl groups or those of the C₂ ˜C₁₃ alkenyl groups both indicated by the aforementioned Rω may be mentioned.

In the present invention, the thiol ester compound expressed by the aforementioned formula (I) is subjected to the reduction reaction to have the thiol ester group eliminated.

In the reduction reaction, it is desirable to use an organic tin compound expressed by the following formula (III)

    (R.sup.3).sub.3 SnH                                        (III)

wherein R₃ indicates a C₁ ˜C₁₀ alkyl group or a phenyl group

As the organic tin compound like this, trimethyltin hydride, triethyltin hydride, tri-n-butyltin hydride, tri-n-hexyltin hydride, tri-n-octyltin hydride, and triphenyltin hydride, for instance, may be mentioned. Of these, tri-n-butyltin hydride and triphenyltin hydride are preferable, and tri-n-butyltin hydride is especially preferable. It is advisable to use the organic tin compound in coexistence with a radical generating agent. As the radical generating agent, α,α'-azobisisobutyronitrile, bis-tert-butylperoxide, and tert-butylhydroperoxide are desirably used.

The organic tin compound is usually used in 2 to 20 molecular weight, preferably 2 to 5 molecular weight, against 1 molecular weight of the thiol ester compound of formula (I). The radical generating agent is usually used in 0.01 to 0.5 molecular weight, preferably 0.05 to 0.1 molecular weight, against 1 molecular weight of the thiol ester compound of formula (I).

It is desirable to carry out the reaction under an inert atmosphere such as nitrogen and argon, usually at 60° to 200° C., preferably at 100° to 150° C. The reaction may also be conducted in an inert organic medium. As the inert organic media, such aromatic hydrocarbons as benzene, toluene, and xylene and such aliphatic hydrocarbons as pentane and hexane may be mentioned and the aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene and toluene are especially preferable.

The progress of reaction can be monitored observing the disappearance of the material by means of thin-layer chromatography and the reaction is usually completed in 1 to 5 hours. After the reaction is over, the reaction solution is freed of solvent, etc. by distillation. The resulting residue is refined by means of column chromatography on silica gel, etc. to give a compound resulting from the deprivation of the thiol ester group from the thiol ester compound of formula (I). Thus obtained compound may further be subjected to the deprotecting reaction, hydrolysis and/or salt-forming reaction, if necessary.

The deprotecting reaction is a publicly known reaction per se, and in case where the protecting group is a group which forms an acetal bond with a hydrogen atom of the hydroxyl group, the reaction is carried out by use of acetic acid, pyridinium salt of p-toluenesulfonic acid, or cation-exchange resin as a catalyst and by use of water, tetrahydrofuran, ethyl ether, dioxane, acetone, and acetonitrile as a reaction solvent. In case where the protecting group is a tri (C₁ ˜C₇) hydrocarbon silyl group, the deprotection is effected by use of acetic acid, tetrabutylammonium fluoride, and cesium, for instance. In case where the protecting group is an acyl group, the deprotection reaction may be carried out in an aqueous solution, or a water-alcohol mixed solution, of caustic soda, caustic potash, or calcium hydroxide; or a methanol or an ethanol solution containing sodium methoxide, potassium methoxide, or sodium ethoxide.

The hydrolytic reaction is a publicly known reaction per se and it can be carried out, for instance, by use of such an enzyme as lipase in water or in a water-containing solvent at a temperature ranging from -10° C. to +60° C. for 10 minutes to 24 hours.

The salt-forming reaction is a publicly known reaction per se and is carried out by allowing carboxylic acid, which is obtained in the aforementioned hydrolytic reaction, to be neutralized with an approximately equivalent weight of a basic compound of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, or sodium carbonate; ammonia, trimethylamine, monoethanolamine, or morpholine according to an ordinary method.

In this way, bicyclo[3.3.0]octanes expressed by the following formula (II) ##STR10## wherein R₁₁ indicates a hydrogen atom, (C₁ ˜C₇) alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, substituted or unsubstituted alicyclic group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl (C₁ ˜C₂) alkyl group, tri (C₁ ˜C₇) hydrocarbon silyl group or one equivalent of cation; Rω' indicates a substituted or unsubstituted C₁ ˜C₁₃ alkyl group or substituted or unsubstituted C₁ ˜C₂ alkenyl group; and R₂₁ indicates a hydrogen atom or hydroxyl-protecting group.

Thus obtained compounds are useful as isocarbacyclins which are medicines having a strong anticoagulant action against thrombocyte coagulation and are also useful compounds as the synthetic intermediates of such isocarbacyclins. For example, isocarbacyclins expressed by the following formula (II-1), which are obtained from a thiol ester compound in which Rω in the aforementioned formula (I) is a substituted vinyl group of formula (V), ##STR11## wherein R₁₁, R₂₁, R₆, R₇, and n are as defined hereinabove and R₅₁ indicates a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl-protecting group.

are useful compounds as medicines. Also, bicyclo [3.3.0] octanes expressed by the following formula (II-2), which are obtained from a thiol ester compound in which Rω of the aforementioned formula (I) is a substituted methyl group of formula (IV), ##STR12## wherein R₁₁ and R₂₁ are as defined hereinabove and R₄₁ indicates a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl-protecting group,

can be led to isocarbacyclins by being subjected to the oxidative reaction to have a formyl group introduced at the 6-position, followed by the Horner-Emmons reaction with a phosphonate compound and the reduction reaction (Chemistry Letters, (1987)).

The thiol ester compound of formula (I), which is a starting material in the aforementioned producing process of the present invention, is a novel compound and can be produced according to the following method.

An enone compound expressed by the following formula (VI) ##STR13## wherein R₁, R₂, and Rω are as defined hereinabove, has its carbonyl group reduced to give an allyl alcohol compound expressed by the following formula (VII) ##STR14## wherein R₁, R₂, and Rω are as defined hereinabove, which is then made to react with an allylhalothionocarbonate compound expressed by the following formula (VIII) ##STR15## wherein Ar is as defined hereinabove and X indicates a halogen group, to obtain a thiol ester compound of formula (I).

The enone compound of formula (VI) which is used in the above process ran be obtained by the following method.

Corey lactone expressed by the following formula (IX) ##STR16## wherein R₂ and Rω are as defined hereinabove, is reduced by lithium aluminum hydride. After the obtained diol modification is mesylated by use of methanesulfonyl chloride, it is treated with cesium acetate (Ikegami et al., Chem. Lett., 1555 (1984)), and the obtained diacetate modification is then hydrolyzed to give a diol compound expressed by the following formula (X) ##STR17## wherein R₂ and Rω are as defined hereinabove. After this diol compound is methylsulfonated, it is made to react with the carbanion of methyl methylsulfinyl-methyl sulfido (FAMSO), followed by the reduction to give a ketone compound expressed by the following formula (XI) ##STR18## wherein R₂ and Rω are as defined hereinabove, which compound is then allowed to undergo aldol condensation with an aldehyde compound expressed by the following formula (XII) ##STR19## wherein R₁ is as defined hereinabove, to give said starting material of the aforementioned formula (VI). The enone compound of formula (VI) can also be produced according to the method described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 34931/85.

The reduction of the carbonyl group of the enone compound of the aforementioned formula (VI) is a publicly known reaction per se and K-selectoride, L-selectoride, and sodium boron hydride-cerium thrichloride is especially preferable. The reaction conditions may be laid down according to the methods described in a document, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 100, 2226 (1978). The allyl alcohol compound of the aforementioned formula (VII) can thus be obtained and then it is made to react with the allylhalothionocarbonate compound of the aforementioned formula (VIII). X in the formula (VIII) is a halogen atom, which includes chlorine and bromine and a chloride atom is especially preferable. In the reaction between the ally alcohol compound of formula (VII) and the allylhalothionocarbonate compound of formula VIII), 1.5 to 10 molecular weight, preferably 2 to 4 molecular weight, of allyhalothionocarbonate compound is used against 1 molecular weight of ally alcohol compound. The reaction is usually conducted in such a medium as methylene chloride, tetrahydrofuran, dimethoxyethane, ether, acetonitrile, pyridine, and hexamethylphosphorousamide (HMPA), of which methylene chloride and acetonitrile are used preferably. In order to make the reaction progress smoothly, it is a usual practice to use a base. As the base, there are such trialkylamines as trimethylamine, triethylamine, and diisopropylamine; such aromatic amines as pyridine, dimethylaminopyridine, and collidine; n-butyl lithium, and t-butoxy potassium, of which aromatic amines, inclusive of dimethylaminopyridine, and also n-butyl lithium are preferable, and the aromatic amines are especially preferable. It is desirable to use 1.5 to 10 molecular weight, preferably 2 to 6 molecular weight, of base against 1 molecular weight, of base against 1 molecular weight of the allyl alcohol compound.

The reaction temperature usually ranges from 0° to 50° C., preferably in the range of 1° to 20° C. and the conclusion of the reaction can be judged by the disappearance of the material observed by means of thin-layer chromatography. The reaction is usually completed in 2 to 24 hours at room temperature. After the reaction is over, the reaction solution is subjected to the ordinary treatments and the obtained crude product is purified by means of column chromatography on silica gel to give a thiol ester compound of formula (I).

As explained in detail hereinabove, the present invention provides a process in which the thiol ester compound of formula (I) is subjected to the reduction reaction to obtain bicyclo[3.3.0] octanes of formula (II) in high yields. Also, the thiol ester compound of formula (I) can be obtained advantageously on an industrial scale by allowing an allyl alcohol compound of formula (VII), which is easily obtained from Corey lactone of formula (IX), to react with an allylhalothionocarbonate compound of formula (VIII).

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The following examples are given to furnish an explanation of the best mode of carrying out the present invention.

EXAMPLE 1 ##STR20##

Enone (1) (147 mg, 0.24 mmol) was dissolved in methanol (3 ml) and the solution was cooled to -40° C. CeCl₃.7H₂ O (90.5 mg, 0.24 mmol, 1 equivalent) was first added to the solution and then NaBH₄ (11.0 mg, 0.29 mmol, 1.2 equivalents) was further added thereto little by little with stirring. After the reaction mixture was stirred under the same conditions for 5 minutes, the mixture was diluted with ether (20 ml). A saturated aqueous solution of NaCl (5 ml) and 10% HCl (one drop) were added thereto and the mixture was stirred for a while. The mixture was extracted with ether (50 ml) and the ether layer was washed with a saturated aqueous solution of NaHCO₃ (5 ml) and a saturated aqueous solution of NaCl (5 ml) and was dried over anhydrous Na₂ SO₄. Upon removal of either by distillation under reduced pressure, crude allyl alcohol (2 ) (148 mg) was obtained in the form of a yellowish oily substance.

IR (liquid film): 3450, 2930, 2850, 1735, 1425, 1110, 700 cm⁻¹.

EXAMPLE 2 ##STR21##

Allyl alcohol (2) (0.24 mmol), without having been purified, was dissolved in dried CH₃ CN (4 ml). -dimethylaminopyridine (148 mg, 1.22 mmol, 5 equivalents) was added while cooling in an ice bath and further phenylchlormthionocarbonate (manufactured by Aldrich, 0.067 ml, 0.486 mmol, equivalents) was added thereto dropwise with a syringe. After the reaction mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature, the mixture was diluted with ether (20 ml) and saturated aqueous solution of NaCl (5 ml). The mixture was extracted with ether (50 ml) and the ether layer was washed with a saturated aqueous solution of NaCl (5 ml×2 times) and dried over Na₂ SO₄ anhydride. After the removal of either by distillation, the obtained crude product was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (AcOEt: n-hexane=1:7) to give the desired thiol ester (3) (147.6 mg, yield from enone (1), 82%) in the form of a light yellow oily substance.

IR (liquid film) V max; 3010, 2910, 2825, 1715, 1580, 1460, 1415, 1090 cm.

1H-NMRδ (CDCl₃) ppm; 7.80˜7.60 (m, 4H, aromatic), 7.50˜7.60 (m, 11H, aromatic), 5.85, 5.65 (brs, 1H, olefinic), 3.6, 75 (s, 3H, OMe), 1.10 (s, 18H, t-Bu).

Mass (EI) m/e: 685 (M⁺ -t-Bu), 601, 583.

EXAMPLE 3 ##STR22##

Thiol ester (3) (147 mg, 0.199 mmol) was dissolved in distilled benzene (5 ml) and tri-n-butyltin hydride (0.268 ml, 0.995 mmol, 5 equivalents) and a catalytically required amount of α,α'-azobisisobutyronitrile were added thereto. The mixture was refluxed with stirring for 3.5 hours while heating. After the reaction was completed, benzene was removed by distillation under reduced pressure and the resulting residue was separated and purified by column chromatography over silica gel (AcOEt: n-hexane=1:10) to obtain the desired olefin (4) (94 mg, yield 80%) in the form of a light yellow oily substance.

IR (liquid film) V max; 2925, 1735, 1420, 1110, 1070, 700 cm⁻¹.

1H-NMRδ (CDCl₃) ppm; 7.80˜7.25 (m, 10H, aromatic), 5.30 (br.s, 1H, olefinic), 4.68˜4.42 (m, 1H, OTHP), 3.60 (s, 3H, OMe), 1.00 (brs, 21H, CH₃). Massm/e; 533 (M⁺ -t-Bu), 371

EXAMPLE 4˜6 ##STR23##

Allyl alcohols (5), (6), (7) were respectively treated according to the same method of preparation as Example 2 to obtain the products (8), (9), and (10). The reaction conditions and the spectrum data of the respective products are shown in Table 1.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________                 Phenyl-                                                            Ally  4-    chloro-                                                                              Product                                                      alcohol                                                                              Dimethyl-                                                                            thiono-                                                                              thiol ester                                                  compound                                                                             amino-                                                                               carbonate                                                                            compound                                                     No.   pyridine                                                                             mg(ml)                                                                               No.   Yield                                                  mg(mmol)                                                                             mg(mmol)                                                                             (mmol)                                                                               mg(mmol)                                                                             %   Spectrum Data                                      __________________________________________________________________________     (5)               (8)       ms (m/e): 733,                                     120(0.20)                                                                            120(1.0)                                                                              81(0.065)                                                                           110(0.15)                                                                            74  687 (M.sub.+ -57)                                               (0.47)         nmr (CDCl.sub.3, δ):                                                     0.8˜0.95 (18H)                                                           3.0˜3.2 (1H),                                                            3.68 (3H, s)                                                                   3.6˜4.3 (3H, m)                                                          5.55 (2H, m)                                                                   5.6˜5.85 (1H,                                                            bs), 7.2˜7.8 (5H)                                                        ir (liquid film                                                                cm.sup.-1), 3020,                                                              2920, 2830, 1720,                                                              1580, 840, 780                                     (6)               (9)       ms (m/e): 722,                                     220(0.35)                                                                            183(1.50)                                                                            120(0.095)                                                                           220(0.29)                                                                            81  715 (M.sup.+ -57)                                               (0.70)         nmr (CDCl.sub.3, δ):                                                     0.7˜0.95 (24H),                                                          3.0˜3.2 (1H),                                                            3.65 (3H, s),                                                                  3.6˜4.3 (3H),                                                            5.50 (2H, m),                                                                  5.5˜5.8 (LH, bs),                                                        7.2˜7.8 (5H)                                                             ir (liquid film                                                                cm.sup.-1): 3010,                                                              1720, 835, 775                                     (7)               (10)      ms (m/e): 742,                                     150(0.25)                                                                            159(1.30)                                                                             86(0.070)                                                                           155(0.21)                                                                            84  686 (M.sup.+ -57)                                               (0.50)         nmr (CDCl.sub.3, δ):                                                     0.7˜0.9 (18H),                                                           2.9˜3.1 (1H)                                                             3.65 (3H, s)                                                                   3.65˜4.25 (3H, m),                                                       5.50 (2H, m),                                                                  5.5˜5.8 (1H, bs)                                                         7.2˜7.80 (5H),                                                           ir (liquid film                                                                cm.sup.-1): 3020,                                                              1720, 840, 775                                     __________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLES 7˜9 ##STR24##

Thiol esters (8), (9), and (10) were respectively treated according to the same method of preparation as Example 3 to obtain the corresponding products (11), (12), and (13). The reaction conditions and the spectrum data of the respective products are shown in Table 2.

                                      TABLE 2                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Thiol       Product                                                            ester Tributyl-                                                                            thiol ester                                                        (compound                                                                            tin-  (compound                                                          No.)  hydride                                                                              No.)   Yield                                                       mg(mmol)                                                                             mg(mmol)                                                                             mg(mmol)                                                                              (%) Spectrum data                                           __________________________________________________________________________     (8)         (11)       ms (m/e): 592, 535 (M.sup.+                             100(0.13)                                                                            193(0.80)                                                                             71(0.12)                                                                             92                                                          57)                                                                                                   nmr (CDCl.sub.3, δ): 0.75˜0.95                                     (18H) , 3.0 (1H, bs),                                                          3.70 (3H, s), 3.6˜4.1                                                    (2H, m), 5.25 (1H, s),                                                         5.50 (2H, m)                                                                   ir (liquid film, cm.sup.-1):                                                   1740, 1260, 1110, 835,                                                         775                                                     (9)                    ms (m/e): 620, 563 (M.sup.+                             203(0.26)                                                                            313(1.30)                                                                            136(0.22)                                                                             85                                                          57)                                                                                                   nmr (CDCl.sub.3, δ): 0.8˜0.9                                       (24H), 2.6˜3.2 (1H),                                                     3.65 (3H, s), 3.5˜4.3                                                    (2H, m), 5.18 (1H, bs),                                                        5.45 (2H, m)                                                                   ir (liquid film, cm.sup.-1):                                                   1740, 1255, 1110, 1002,                                                        968, 835, 770                                           (10)        (13)       ms (m/e): 590, 533 (M.sup.+                             131(0.18)                                                                            360(1.50)                                                                             88(0.15)                                                                             83                                                          57)                                                                                                   nmr (CDCl.sub.3, δ): 0.8˜0.9                                       (18H), 2.8˜3.2 (1H),                                                     3.70 (3H, s), 3.5˜4.2                                                    (2H, m), 5.20 (1H, bs),                                                        5.50 (2H, m)                                                                   ir (liquid film, cm.sup.-1):                                                   1745, 835, 775                                          __________________________________________________________________________

Industrial Applications

The manufacturing process proposed by the present invention relates to an industrially excellent process for producing bicyclo[3.3.0] octanes and this invention has made it possible to obtain pharmaceutically useful isocarbacyclins or their synthetic intermediates from the starting materials readily available on the market. 

What we claim is:
 1. A process for producing bicyclo[3.3.0] octanes expressed by the following formula (II) ##STR25## wherein R₁₁ indicates a hydrogen atom, C₁ ˜C₁₃ alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, substituted or unsubstituted alicyclic group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl (C₁ ˜C₂) alkyl group, tri (C₁ ˜C₇) hydrocarbon silyl group or one equivalent of cation; Rω indicates a substituted or unsubstituted C₁ ˜C₁₃ group or substituted or unsubstituted C₂ ˜C₁₃ alkenyl group; and R₂₁ indicates a hydrogen atom or hydroxyl-protecting group;which process comprises subjecting a thiol ester compound expressed by the following formula (I) ##STR26## wherein R₁ indicates a C₁ ˜C₁₀ alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, substituted or unsubstituted alicyclic group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl (C₁ ˜C₂) alkyl group or tri (C₁ ˜C₇) hydrocarbon silyl group; Ar indicates a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group; Rω indicates a substituted or unsubstituted C₁ ˜C₁₃ group or a substituted or unsubstituted C₂ ˜C₁₃ alkenyl group; and R₂ indicates a hydroxyl-protecting group; to a reduction reaction, followed by, if necessary, a deprotecting reaction, hydrolysis and/or salt-forming reaction.
 2. The process for producing bicyclo[3.3.0] octanes according to claim 1, wherein said reduction reaction is carried out by use of an organic tin compound expressed by the following formula (III)

    (R.sup.3).sub.3 SnH                                        (III)

wherein R₁ indicates a C₁ ˜C₁₀ alkyl group or phenyl group.
 3. The process for producing bicyclo[3.3.0] octanes according to claim 1, wherein Rω in the aforementioned formula (I) is a substituted methyl group expressed by the following formula (IV) ##STR27## wherein R₄ indicates a hydroxyl-protecting group.
 4. The process for producing bicyclo[3.3.0] octanes according to claim 1, wherein Rω in the aforementioned formula (I) is a substituted vinyl group expressed by the following formula (V) ##STR28## wherein R₅ indicates a hydroxyl-protecting group; R₆ indicates a hydrogen atom, methyl group or vinyl group; R₇ indicates a substituted or unsubstituted C₁ ˜C₉ alkenyl group, substituted or unsubstituted C₂ ˜C₉ alkynyl group, or substituted or unsubstituted C₅₁ ˜C₆ cycloalkyl group; and n indicates an integer 0 or
 1. 5. A process for producing bicyclo[3.3.0] octanes expressed by the following formula (II) ##STR29## wherein R₁₁ indicates a hydrogen atom, C₁ ˜C₁₃ alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, substituted or unsubstituted alicyclic group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl (C₁ ˜C₂) alkyl group, tri (C₁ ˜C₇) hydrocarbon silyl group or one equivalent of cation; R, indicates a substituted or unsubstituted C₁ ˜C₁₃ alkyl group or substituted or unsubstituted C₂ ˜C₁₃ alkenyl group; and R₂₁ indicates a halogen atom or hydroxyl-protecting group;which process comprises allowing an allyl alcohol compound expressed by the following formula (VII) ##STR30## wherein R₁ indicates a C₁ ˜C₁₀ alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, substituted or unsubstituted alicyclic group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl (C₁ ˜C₂) alkyl group or tri (C₁ ˜C₇) hydrocarbon silyl group; Rω indicates a substituted or unsubstituted C₁ ˜C₁₃ alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted C₂ ˜C₁₃ alkenyl group; and R₂ indicates a hydroxyl-protecting group; to react with an allylhalothionocarbonate compound expressed by the following formula (VIII) ##STR31## wherein Ar indicates a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group; and X indicates a halogen atom, to obtain a thiol ester compound of formula (I) ##STR32## wherein R₁, R₂, Ar, and Rω are as defined hereinabove, which is then subjected to a reduction reaction, followed also by a deprotecting reaction, hydrolysis and/or salt-forming reaction, if necessary.
 6. The process for producing bicyclo[3.3.0] octanes according to claim 5, wherein said allylhalothiono carbonate compound of the aforementioned formula (VIII) is subjected to the reaction with the allyl alcohol compound of the aforementioned formula (VII) in the presence of a base.
 7. The process for producing bicyclo[3.3.0] octanes according to claim 6, wherein said base is an aromatic amine.
 8. A process for producing bicyclo[3.3.0] octanes expressed by the following formula (II) ##STR33## wherein R₁₁ indicates a hydrogen atom, C₁ ˜C₁₃ alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, substituted or unsubstituted alicyclic group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl (C₁ ˜C₂) alkyl group, tri (C₁ ˜C₇) hydrocarbon silyl group or one equivalent of cation; Rω' indicates a substituted or unsubstituted C₁ ˜C₁₃ alkyl group or substituted or unsubstituted C₂ ˜C₁₃ alkenyl group; and R₂₁ indicates a hydrogen atom or hydroxyl-protecting group;wherein process comprises reducing an enone compound expressed by the following formula (VI) ##STR34## wherein R₁ indicates a C₁ ˜C₁₀ alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, substituted or unsubstituted alicyclic group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl (C₁ ˜C₂) alkyl group or tri (C₁ ˜C₇) hydrocarbon alkyl group; Rω indicates a substituted or unsubstituted C₁ ˜C₁₃ alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted C₂ ˜C₁₃ alkenyl group; and R₂ indicates a hydroxyl-protecting group; to give an allyl alcohol compound expressed by the following formula (VII) ##STR35## wherein R₁, R₂, and Rω are as defined hereinabove, which is then made to react with an allylhalothionocarbonate compound expressed by the following formula (VIII) ##STR36## wherein Ar indicates a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group; and X indicates a halogen atom; to obtain a thiol ester compound expressed by the following formula (I) ##STR37## wherein R₁, R₂, Ar, and Rω are as defined hereinabove, and subjecting this compound to a reduction reaction followed by a deprotecting reaction, hydrolysis and/or salt-forming reaction, in necessary.
 9. The process for producing bicyclo[3.3.0] octanes according to claim 8, wherein said reduction of an enon compound of the aforementioned formula (VI) is carried out by use of sodium boron hydride-cerium trichloride. 